Telescoping aluminum frame



June 13, W? J J. BROST 3,324,599

' TELESCOPING ALUMINUM FRAME Filed May 6, 1965 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIIIlI/lI/l/IIL IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII II INVENTOR. 39 Jaw/w flea/'7 June 113, 19%? Filed May 19 5 J. J, BROST TELESCOPING ALUMINUM FRAME 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Min l R N a!) Q L. 9 1' CH5 N I l June l3, 1* J. J. BRO ST TELESCOPING ALUMINUM FRAME 5 Sheets-Sheefi5 Filed May 6, 1965 ,JrraemeW June 13, 1967 J B O -r TELESGOPIMG ALUMINUM FRAME 5 Sheets-$heet4 Filed May 6, 1965 INVENTOR. Jaw/J 017' w'row/vifl w Mi June 13, 1967 J. J. BRQST TELESCOPING ALUMINUM FRAME Filed May 6, 1985 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. fifivif' Jamil/LA 3,324,599 TELESQGPWG ALUMINUIVI FRAME John I. Brest, 95 Anita Drive, Pasadena, Caiif. 91.105 Fiied May 6, 1965, Ser. No. 453,639 9 tClaims. (Cl. 4-9--5Il5) This invention relates to an aluminum frame and more particularly to a telescoping aluminum frame of the type suitable for use in the construction industry for the installation of doors, and of windows such as borrowed lights.

The utilization of metallic materials for door frames and window frames is Well known, steel and aluminum being the more common. The practice involves assembling the frame at the plant and shipping it as a unit to the construction site. Large inventories are frequently required to accommodate the various sizes and types desired and this in turn imposes an additional storage burden on the manufacturer and on the contractor as well in the event that he is not ready to install the particular frames. Another disadvantage of the prior art is the increased costs of shipping and handling these bulky items. In the manufacture of steel frames for example, the necessary steps include shearing the material to desired widths, punching for miters, hinges, and strikes; forming in a power brake; dimpling; welding; grinding; degreasing; and priming with paint, all of which means that the time to convert raw material to the finished product is excessive.

In the present invention these disadvantages are alleviated by utilizing extruding aluminum members which are first annodized before the necessary machining and punching operations are performed. Two somewhat similar extruded members are used to form the front and back sections of the frame and a third extruded member is used to install and align these sections in a wall opening. In each of the two extruded members are provided concealed keyways or raceways which receive the installing clips as well as backing plates for the butts, mounting plates for the strike, and various corner plates to secure a tight mitered joint. Thus, a door frame formed of these extrusions in the manner described below, has the advantage of being shipped at less cost and subsequently assembled at the job site.

The same extrusions which are used to form the telescoping door frame of the invention may also be used to form a telescoping window frame by providing a fourth U-shaped extrusion or retaining member which can be snapped into a groove milled in the jamb portion of the front section. Here again shipment in knockeddown form is feasible and facilitates handling and lowers cost.

Another advantage of the invention stems from the manner in which a door frame or a window frame according to the invention is installed in a wall opening. Even though only a few fasteners are visible in the door frame, none in the case of a window frame, by proceeding in inverse order the particular frame may be removed from the wall opening and relocated as desired. Thus, major structural changes can be easily made in the particular frame reused in a different wall, even one having a different thickness.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved telescoping door frame.

It is another object of the invention to provide a telescoping door frame of the type described which may be shipped knocked-down and assembled at the job site.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a telescoping door frame of the type described which may be readily installed in a door opening and subsequently removed as the need arises.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a 3,324,599 Patented June 13, 1E6? telescoping door frame of the type described which utilizes extruded aluminum members having raceways for receiving corner plates to affect a tight mitered joint and backing plates to receive hardware for mounting a door.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved telescoping window frame.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved telescoping window frame of the type described which may be shipped knocked-down and assembled at the job site.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a telescoping window frame of the type described which may be readily installed in a concealed manner in a wall opening and subsequently removed as the need arises.

It is another object of the invention to provide a telescoping window frame of the type described which utilizes extruded aluminum members having raceways for receiving corner clips to affect a tight mitered joint.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description take-n in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a telescoping aluminum door frame according to the invention shown installed in a wall opening;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the invention taken along a line 22 as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the invention taken along a line 3-3 as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a combination cross-sectional view and partial plan view of the invention taken along a line 4-4 as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the invention taken along a line 55' as shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the invention taken along a line 65 as shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the various parts in the manner in which they are assembled to form a mitered joint according to the invention;

FIGURE 8 illustrates the relative position of some of the parts during the assembling process of a mitered joint as shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 9-9 as shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 10 is a partial plan view taken along a line Iltl1tl as shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a partial perspective showing a manner in which a strike plate may be attached to a door frame according to the invention;

FIGURE 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a different arrangement to form a mitered joint according to the invention;

FIGURE 13 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along a line 13-13 as shown in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of a telescoping window frame according to the invention installed in a wall opening;

FIGURE 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 15-15 as shown in FIGURE 14; and

FIGURE 16 is a partial perspective view of the retaining member used in the telescoping window frame as shown in FIGURES l4 and 15.

In FIGURE 1 a telescoping aluminum door frame 20 constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown installed in a wall 21 having a nominal thickness as idicated by a reference letter D. The frame 20 includes a back section 22 comprising side jamb members 23 and 24 connected at mitered joints to a top header member 25. The frame 26 also includes a front section 26 comprising side jamb members 27 and 28 connected at mitered joints to a top header member 29, reference FIGURES 2 to 4. A door is shown mounted in a conventional manner on butts 31 to the side jamb member 27 of the front section 26.

The members 2325 are formed from an aluminum extrusion the outer surfaces of which define a casing portion 32 which extends over the wall 21 and the jamb portion 33 which extends partially into the opening of the wall 21. On the inner surface of the casing portion 32 there is provided a first raceway 34 for receiving an installing clip 35. A second raceway 36 is provided along the inner surface of the jamb portion 33 and provides a bearing surface for a surface support element 37 extending from the main body of the installing clip 35. As best seen in FIGURE 7, the installing clip includes a planar crosselement 38 extending from the body of the clip 35 and is mountable in the first raceway 34 as best seen in FIGURE 8. Openings 39 are provided in the installing clip 35 to receive fitted fasteners 40 for installing the back section 22 in the opening of the wall 21.

The members 27-29 are formed from a slightly modified L-shaped extrusion the outer surfaces of which define a casing portion 41 extending outwardly over the wall '21, a jamb portion 42 extending partially into the opening in the wall 21, and a raised stop portion 43 having a front end surface 44- and a rear end surf-ace 45 extending over the jamb portion 33 of the back section 22. Raceways 46 and 47 similar in all respects with the raceways 34 and 36 respectively, are provided along the inner surfaces of the casing and jamb portions 41 and 42 respectively. A T-slot .48 is provided in the front end surface 44 for receiving a sound deadening wool pile insert 49. An aligning or spacer clip 50, similar to the installing clip 35 except that the body portion does not extend beyond the support element 37, has a planar cross-element 51 for mounting in the raceway 46. The clip also includes a surface support element 52 which provides structural support for the jam portion 42.

It should be pointed out that the inside dimension of the raised stop portion 43, a and b, defines the range within which the width D of the wall 21 may vary without requiring a substitution for the door frame '20 as shown in FIGURE 2.

In FIGURE 3, the section through the side jamb members 23 and 27 is taken at the lower butt 31 of the frame 20 as shown in FIGURE 1. The butt 31 is mounted to the door 30 in a conventional manner and to the side jamb member 27 by way of a butt backing plate 53 which is positioned in the raceway 47 and in turn fastened to the opening of the wall 21 by a threaded fastener 54. The plate 53 includes openings 55 for receiving the butt screws 56. It is preferred that the installing clip 35 be properly positioned in the raceway 34 of the side jamb member 23 so that the threaded fastener 54 may extend through one of the holes 39 in the body of the installing clip 35 as shown in FIGURE 5. Likewise, the preferred positioning of the aligning or spacer clip 50 in the side jamb member 27 is on either or both sides of the installing clip as shown in FIGURES 4 and 6. As best seen in FIGURE 7, part of the jamb portion 42 of the side jamb member 27 is removed to receive the butts 31. A strike plate 56 is similarly flush mounted in the jamb portion 42 of the side jamb member 28. Two strike backing plates 57 are provided in the raceway 47 on either side of the strike plate 56 as shown in FIGURES 3, 9, 10 and 11. The backing plates 53 and 57 may be retained in the relative position in the raceway 47 by means of dimpling as shown in FIGURE 12 by the reference numeral 58. This permits removal of the butts 31 and the strike plate 56 for replacement purposes if necessary and prevents the respective backing plates from dropping out of position.

In FIGURE 4, a backing plate 59 is provided in the raceway 47 of the top header member 29. To add structural strength to the door frame 20, a threaded fastener 60 extends through an opening in the jamb portion 42 through the plate 59 into the Wall 21. By proper positioning of the installing clip 35, the fastener 60 may also pass through one of the openings 39 in the clip 35. One or more fasteners 60 may be used in the door frame 20 depending upon the width of the door frame.

A corner miter plate 61 is provided for added strength and alignment purposes at each of the mitered joints of the door frame 20. The mitered plate 61 is positioned in thte raceway 34 of the back section 22 and also in the raceway 46 of the front section 26. A corner angle bracket 62 is also provided at each mitered joint, the angle bracket 62 being positioned in the raceways 36 and 47 respectively of the back and front sections 22 and 26 as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. The mitered joint shown in these figures is formed by cutting each of the members of the door frame 20 at a 45 angle in the plane of the corresponding casing portions 32 and 41.

FIGURES 12 and 13 show an alternate method of forming a composite miter and butt joint. In this arrangement each of the casing portions 32 and 41 are similarly cut at a 45 angle. The jamb portions 33 and 42 of the top header members 25 and 29 respectively are cut at right angles to a length slightly greater than the width of the door 30. Each of the jam portions 33 and 42 respectively of the back and front sections 22 and 26 are cut at right angles at a point somewhat above the lines 63 and 64 respectively to provide supporting surfaces 65 and 66 which extend beyond the raceways 36 and 47 respectively of the top header members 25 and 29 when they are joined with the corresponding side jamb members 23 and 27. Corner attachment plates 67 are positioned and secured in the raceways 36 and 47 and are provided with threaded openings 68 which are in alignment with openings 69 in the surfaces 65 and 66 to receive threaded fasteners 70. It will be noted that the raised stop portion 43 of the side jamb member 27 must be cut at a point below the line 64 by the amount indicated by reference letter c. The corner plate 61 are also used in the mitered joint of FIGURE 12 as shown in FIGURE 13 and together with the supporting surface 66, the corner attachment plate 67, and the threaded fastener 70 serve to provide a flush and tight mitered joint. The remaining side jamb members 24 and 28 may be similarly connected to the corresponding top header members.

The telescoping window frame as shown in FIGURE 14 includes a back section 71 and a front section 72, each of which comprises two side jamb members 73 interconnected to a top header member 74 and a bottom sill member 75 by mitered joints either of the type shown in FIG- URES 7 and 12. The back section 71 of the window frame is similar in all respects with the back section 22 of the door frame 20 and is mounted in a wall opening by installing clip 35. The front section 72 of the window frame is substantially similar to the front section 26 of the door frame 20. In the window frame, the front end surface 45 of the raised stop portion 43 is fiat; in addition, a groove 76 is provided in the jamb portion 42 at a predetermined distance from the front end surface 45. Into the groove 76 is fitted an extruded, inverted U-shaped retaining member for holding a window pane 78. Clips similar to the installing clips 35 and the spacer clips 50 may be used in the respective raceways 34 and 46 and positioned near the various openings in the groove 76 through which conventional fasteners 60 extend to attach the front section 72 to the wall 21. A backing plate similar to the backing plate 59 of FIGURE 4 may also be provided in the raceway 47 to add structural strength to the installation.

After the back section 71 is installed via fasteners 40, the front section 72 is then positioned in place as shown in FIGURE 15 and attached to the wall 21 via the fasteners 60 which may also, by proper positioning of the clips 35, extend through one of its openings 39. The window pane 78 is then installed and the retaining members 77, mitered as shown in FIGURE 16, snapped into place in the groove 76, thus concealing the fasteners 60.

Thus, there has been shown a novel telescoping aluminum frame which may be used to form a door frame or, with slight modifications, a window frame, both of which may be shipped knocked-down and assembled at the job site for installation in walls of varying thickness. In addition, if desired, the installed frame may be easily removed even though the installation does not readily reveal the devices which secures the frame in the wall opening.

Although my invention is fully capable of achieving the results and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that it is merely the presently preferred embodiment thereof, and that I do not mean to be limited to the details of construction above described other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A telescoping door frame for an opening in a wall comprising front and back sections each including a top header member and two side jamb members extending downwardly from the corresponding header member at the opposite ends thereof in inverted U-type configuration, each of said members including a casing portion surrounding said opening and in surface contact relation with the corresponding sides of said wall, a jamb portion extending partially into said opening from the associated casing portion, and first and second raceways integrally formed on the concealed surfaces of said casing and jamb portions respectively, the jamb portion of said front section further including a raised st-op portion having front and back end surfaces and extending over the jamb portion of said back section in contact relation therewith, said front end surface having a slot extending along its length and a cushioning material inserted in said slots; installing clips having openings for receiving fasteners to attach said back section to said wall, said installing clips including a first planar element mountable in said first raceway and a second planar element extending therefrom and including said openings and a support element intermediate said openings and said first planar element for supporting the jamb portion of said back section at the second raceway thereof in said wall opening; spacer clips for aligning said front section in said wall opening with said back section, said spacer clips including a first planar element mountable in said first raceway of said front section and including a second planar element extending at one end from said first planar element and having a support element at the other end for supporting the jamb portion of said front section at the second raceway thereof in said wall opening; butt backing plates movably mounted in the second raceway of one of said side members of said front section and including threaded openings for attaching butts thereto to carry a door; and strike backing plates moveably mounted in the second raceway of the other of said side members of said front section for attaching a strike plate for latching said door in the closed position.

2. The telescoping door frame in accordance with claim 1 further characterized in that said side jamb members of said front and back sections are joined to the corresponding top header members and form a mitered joint, each of said members being cut at a 45 angle relative to the length of said members and in the plane of said casing portion; and in that said door frame further includes a corner mitre plate and a corner angle bracket each of which includes a first tab for extending into said first and second raceways respectively of said top header members at each end thereof and a second tab for extending into said first and second raceways respectively of the adjoining side jamb members, said tabs being secured to said members in the raceways thereof to provide a strong mitred joint.

3. The telescoping door frame in accordance with claim 1 further characterized in that said side jamb members of said front and back sections are joined to the corre sponding top header members and form a composite mitre and "butt joint, the casing portions of each of said members being cut at a 45 angle relative to the length thereof and in the plane of said casing portion, the jamb portions of said members being cut at a right angle relative to the length of said members, the length of said jamb portion of said top header members being slightly larger than said door, and the length of said jamb portion of said side jamb members being larger than the height of said door to provide a supporting surface extending beyond the second raceway of said top header member; and in that said door frame further includes a corner attachment plate and a corner mitre plate for each of the four composite joints, said corner attachment plate adapted for mounting in said second raceways of said top header members at each end near said joints and including an upwardly extending surface element having a threaded opening for receiving a threader fastener extending through an opening in said supporting surface to fasten each side joint member to its adjoining top 'header member, said corner mitre plate including first and second tabs for extending into the first raceway of said top header and said side joint members respectively and aligning the casing portions thereof to provide a tight composite joint thereat.

4. A telescoping window frame for a wall opening comprising in combination front and back sections each including a top header member, a bottom sill member, and two side jamb members joined at opposite ends thereof to said top header member and said bottom sill member in a mitred joint, each of said members including a jamb portion extending partially into said wall opening from opposite sides thereof and a casing portion extending orthogonally outwardly from said jamb portion and in surface contact with the wall surrounding said wall opening, each of said members of said front section further including a raised stop portion coextending inwardly in said wall opening from said jamb portion and overlapping the jamb portion of each member of said back section, said jamb portions of said front section each including a groove recessed therein at a predetermined distance from said raised stop portion and having a plurality of spaced apart openings extending therethrough, said window frame further including a U-shaped retaining member adapted to be snapped into said recessed groove and retained therein for holding a window in the space between said raised stop portion and said retaining member, each of said casing and jamb portions further including first and second raceways respectively formed along the concealed surfaces thereof; installing clip means including a first planar element mountable in said first raceway and a second planar element extending therefrom having a support element to provide a bearing surface for said jamb portion adjacent to said second raceway for fastening said back section in said wall opening by threaded fasteners extending through openings therefore provided near the end of said second element which extends be yond said jamb portions; spacer clip means including a first planar element mountable in said first raceway of said front section members and a second planar element extending therefrom having a support element at its outer end to provide a bearing surface for said jamb portion adjacent to said second raceway for aligning said front section with said back section, said front section being fastened in said wall opening by threaded fasteners extending through the openings provided in said recessed groove; and a corner mitre plate having first and second taps extending in the same plane at right angles relative to each other and mountable in respective first raceways of any two of said members at the mitred joint thereof to align the casing portions thereof and maintain said joint tight.

5. The telescoping window frame in accordance with claim 4 further characterized in that each of said members is cut at each end at a 45 angle relative to the length thereof and in the plane of said casing portion; and in that said window frame further includes corner angle 6. The telescoping Window frame in accordance with claim 4 characterized in that said mitred joint comprises a composite mitre and butt joint, the casing portions of each of said members being cut at a 45 angle relative to the length thereof and in the plane of said casing portion, the jamb portion of one member forming each joint being out at a right angle relative to the length of said one member and at a point where said angled cut meets the jamb portion, and the jamb portion of the other member forming that joint being cut at a right angle relative to its length beyond the point where said angled cut meets the jamb portion to provide a supporting surface extending into said one member; and in that said window frame further includes a corner attachment plate mountable in said second raceway of said one member and secured thereto near the joint end thereof, said corner attachment plate including a surface element having a threaded opening and extending outwardly away from said second raceway in parallel relationship with said supporting surface of said other member for receiving in said threaded opening a threaded fastener passing through an opening in said supporting surface to form a tight joint thereat.

7. A telescoping frame for an opening in a wall comprising, a back section having a back jamb portion adapted to be located in said opening along the edge thereof and a back casing portion extending laterally of and outwardly from the back edge of said jamb portion for projection over the back side of said wall; a front section having a front jamb portion overlapping said back jamb portion and acasing portion extending laterally of and outwardly from the front edge of said front jamb portion for projection over the front side of said wall; said casing portions havingconfronting inner sides and generally channelshaped raceways on said inner sides; generally T-shaped clips including leg members engageable with said opening edge and cross members engaged in said raceways, respectively, for positioning said sections in said opening; engaging support means on said jamb portions and-clip leg members, respectively, for positioning said jamb portions relative to said leg members; and means for attaching said frame sections to said wall including fasteners extending through said leg member of one clip.

8. A telescoping frame for an opening in the wall comprising front and back sections each including a top header member and two side jamb members extending downwardly from the corresponding header member at opposite ends thereof in inverted U-shape configuration; each 'of said members including a jamb portion adapted to be located in said opening along the edge thereof and a casing portion extending laterally of and outwardly from one edge of said jamb portion for projection over the adjacent side of said wall; generally channel-shaped raceways integrally formed on the confronting ides of the casing portions of said front and back frame sections; said jamb portions of said front and rear frame sections being disposed in overlapping relation; said header and jamb members of each frame section having abutting mitered ends through which said raceways open; and L-shaped corner plates bridging the abutting mitered ends of each frame section and having ends slidably engaged in said raceways of the adjacent header and jamb members. 9. A telescoping frame according to claim 8 wherein: said jamb portions of said members have generally channel-shaped raceways integrally formed on the surfaces thereof which confront said wall, said latter raceways opening through the abutting mitered ends of said members, and additional L-shaped corner plates bridging the abutting mitered ends of each frame section and having ends slidably engaged in said latter raceways of the adjacent abutting header and jamb members.

7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,890,500 6/1959 Griffin 49-504 3,055,468 9/1962 Horejs et al. 52-732 3,057,444 10/1962 Walberg 52-732 FOREIGN PATENTS 79,265 10/1962 France. 872,847 4/1953 Germany.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner. 

1. A TELESCOPING FRAME FOR AN OPENING IN A WALL COMPRISING, A BACK SECTION HAVING A BACK JAMB PORTION ADAPTED TO BE LOCATED IN SAID OPENING ALONG THE EDGE THEREOF AND A BACK CASING PORTION EXTENDING LATERALLY OF AND OUTWARDLY FROM THE BACK EDGE OF SAID JAMB PORTION FOR PROJECTION OVER THE BACK SIDE OF SAID WALL; A FRONT SECTION HAVING A FRONT JAMB PORTION OVERLAPPING SAID BACK JAMB PORTION AND A CASING PORTION EXTENDING LATERALLY OF AND OUTWARDLY FROM THE FRONT EDGE OF SAID FRONT JAMB PORTION FOR PROJECTION OVER THE FRONT SIDE OF SAID WALL; SAID CASING PORTIONS HAVING CONFRONTING INNER SIDES AND GENERALLY CHANNELSHAPED RACEWAYS ON SAID INNER SIDES; GENERALLY T-SHAPED CLIPS INCLUDING LEG MEMBERS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID OPENING EDGE AND CROSS MEMBERS ENGAGED IN SAID RACEWAYS, RESPECTIVELY, FOR POSITIONING SAID SECTIONS IN SAID OPENING; ENGAGING SUPPORT MEANS ON SAID JAMB PORTIONS AND CLIP LEG MEMBERS, RESPECTIVELY, FOR POSITIONING SAID JAMB PORTIONS RELATIVE TO SAID LEG MEMBERS; AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID FRAME SECTIONS TO SAID WALL INCLUDING FASTENERS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID LEG MEMBER OF ONE CLIP. 